A Conversation with Rene´ Martinez: The PRS Silver Sky | PRS Guitars

The legendary Rene´ Martinez dropped by the factory to chat with Paul about the PRS Silver Sky. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the tech talk!

[@jakebowman6623]

Rene' Martinez approved...that's all I needed to hear.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Yeah but he clearly has no idea what he's talking about because he's not on twitter or facebook. THAT'S where the REAL experts are...

[@noseyparker6622]

That's exactly what the PRS spin doctors knew would work.

[@jakebowman6623]

Ha! First of all where did that come from? Second, what's wrong with gay sex with illegal aliens? Broaden your horizons dude. Don't knock until you try it.

[@jakebowman6623]

Stevie Ray trusted him, John Mayer trusts him. Who am I to argue. Did he get paid to affirm that which he already believed? Perhaps but this is America goddammit! Does him making a few extra bucks make him or the guitar illegitimate? Let's remember at the end of the day, it's just a guitar. If you don't like it...don't buy it!

[@sheercerebralpower]

Well; I have it...as well as vintage Strats from 56 - 73.....the SSky is an impeccably sounding, inspiring instrument.....I luuuurve it......

[@Rockification09]

The guy behind Stevie Ray Vaughan’s epic guitar switch!

[@prsguitars]

Rene´sure had some great stories to tell when he came to the factory. We will be dropping another video in the coming weeks that features Rene´ talking about the "good ole days." Thanks for watching, Jerard!

[@anmolatwal]

This is John Mayer saying a big fuck you to Fender proving, anybody will make him a strat he wants!!

[@cuauhtemocmorisco3493]

Anmol Singh lol😂💀

[@bbnatedogg]

I bet they even soldered the ground wiring unlike Fenders sorry custom shop

[@HatRock]

And still falling short... This is an abomination to PRS and a ridiculous modern strat attempt. The American Elite Stratocaster kicks this thing out of the park. PRS can do it waaay better, but clearly they decided to please John's "in-your-face" to Fender just because is a good artist to have on their catalog. Pretty sure the 2nd or 3rd version of this guitar will be complete different, or they will make another model with PRS on command.

[@wildersparks9161]

Difference being if Fender made it people would want it.

[@anmolatwal]

It is so fucking weird that people still want it...a lot!!! But this could have been so so much more than just a botched up strat wanna be!!

[@confusedscreaming9727]

God damn, PRS must have the best team of lawyers on earth.

[@confusedscreaming9727]

Godspeed i cant believe they got away with the 594 single cut, let alone this

[@fitnotfat1622]

You can copy a strat, just not the headstock, they dont gotta pay a dime. Schecter makes strat copies too

[@yoyo19831983]

Suhr.. Nash... Grosh... Tom anderson... Ibanez... Musicman... Everybody makes them... This is less a strat than all of the above..

[@mitcharney1]

Just Marvin: $2300.00!

[@KevinMcLaren71]

That was the first thing I thought of!

[@crazyxadamx]

John and SRV's tech, for those who don`t know

[@MetallicA29]

crazyxadamx A legend for sure!

[@Rockification09]

The live guitar switch after the string breaks.

[@simonprs]

And Santana too

[@mikecollinson3478]

And a pretty awesome flamenco guitarist

[@johncarlonagulada6855]

@@Rockification09 is this the tech that switched SRV's guitar smoothly when he broke a string midsong? Man, that was epic!!!

[@lauriedepaurie]

It's the curse of John Mayer I guess. A guy so talented that some people decide to get offended by everything he touches. He distanced from a brand that distanced itself from players and dealers. That type of guitar basically was the JM tone. So it's natural that PRS accommodates, staying true to their tweaking nature. Just because it looks familliar doesn't mean every part has been reworked. I'm a vintage enthusiast and a boutique enthusiast. I know I can be pretty judgemental about a guitar because it's not 'exactly' as it was back in fifty-something. But you have to admit that plenty of (boutique) builders do exactly this (tweaking an ST type guitar) at the exact same price with respect. Paul, you did a great job! I like the other signature more, bit this is a great ST

[@SalmonFume]

I agree. Leo Fender got laughed at when he showed his Stratocaster for the first time. He got laughed at because he wanted to make a guitar player-friendly. This PRS is a quality instrument, I'd love to give it a try. Because when you're open for other and new things, you often learn something about yourself. Negative and positive. Like: "Wow, how ignorant was I for disrespecting and scolding at a dedicated guitar builder's end product. A judgement I made based upon a picture on a screen, for something that is used to create sound and booster creativity."

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

Love my Sadowsky NYC Strat great quality and plays beautifully

[@braytunes]

If you like it, buy it, and if you don't like it, don't buy it. Why the negativity? You know that PRS makes an extremely well crafted guitar and you know it will play like a dream. Why is it okay for Suhr, Tom Anderson and Hahn etc to make a Strat inspired guitar but not PRS?

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Thank you for this sage advice. I will not be buying it.

[@telefrk49]

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH thanks for letting us know ....

[@fernank017]

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH you couldn't afford it any way

[@CompelledUsername]

Paul made a living by making a beautiful, unsurpassed, Les Paul/Strat hybrid. That’s clearly what the inspiration for his original models were. So, stop complaining, and realise that this is a quality guitar, approved by John Mayer, that will cost a hell of a lot less than John’s signature Strat.

[@alexwoods5132]

lol people need to be upset about something so they chose this.

[@romeoandthelonelygir]

13minutes of not saying Strat

[@Claymation99]

Three single-coil pickup, bolt-on neck guitar... it's like a generic cereal or something

[@romeoandthelonelygir]

Claymation99 you can do it to all different levels of good but with a PRS you'd hope it would look a bit special, like suhr say

[@y007p3]

romeoandthelonelygirl I think it looks great but I’m not 100% sure about the PRS headstock on a Stratty design.

[@NewHopeAudio]

romeoandthelonelygirl for real 😂

[@jorgex9789]

I'd like to see the outtakes "I love this Strat" CUT!!! again, you cannot say Strat, please.

[@colebowman2833]

Thank god! I'm so happy PRS made this. There's two things I really love, PRS and Strat style guitars and I'll bet this is killer! I wish I knew what they are going to cost. I gotta have one! Love my s2 singlecut!

[@andrew213rn]

Did you get one?

[@mrlozano]

John's tone went through the roof as soon as he had this beautiful guitar in his hands. Some serious "next level" tone. Tremendous sound. Unheard of before this creation.

[@Seandunc69]

Wow, now that man is a legend!! If anyone knows ‘three pickup’ guitars this is the man!

[@fredericadda]

Basically the Silver Sky is what the Strat should have become if Fender had kept innovating and refining the guitar instead of relying on their heritage.

[@seanraidley2643]

I love Paul so much. And Rene. And John. And this guitar. I’m so happy about all of this.

[@MrUltraworld]

I played one at Sweetwater and it feels and sounds like an early 60's Strat reissue. I don't get how they spent 2 or 3yrs making a reissue Strat. But it's well made, set up was perfect, very low noise. It's going to sell like hotcakes.

[@KenjiKitahara]

Two great luthiers. So good to see them both alive and well, and making great instruments today... few people have a clue as to how much effort and attention to detail goes into what they do.

[@jasonray5586]

“Thanks Paul, nice for having me here” This guy is my spirit animal when I try to talk too

[@PorkChop71912]

What a legend. To know that he's the man behind some of the best guitar performances of all time.

[@jamesprice6381]

Renee set up my FIRST warmoth guitar in 1985! He was at Eugenes in OAK CLIFF I was stationed just down the road at Grand Prairie Naval Air Station! :) Eugenes guitar was an AWSM PLACE!!! :) Bought my first Fender Super Reverb at a Pawn shop for $300 in Oak Cliff ( 74) Shoulda kept it, sold it to buy my first Marshall JCM-800, shoulda kept it! :) Ended up moving on, in early 90's when i got stationed in Atlanta..bought a 74 SL 100 forr $400.00 (2) VTG Marshall cabs from Jim Eachus in San Francisco off ( Harmony Central) for $400 EACH :) yep SHOULDA KEPTEM! Llolololololol

[@macleoddan]

I would buy this guitar because of this....

[@danialm8122]

I fall in love with this guitar.

[@lightyagami8377]

Why everyone freaking out that it looks like a Strat? no one bats an eye that ESP, Jackson, Ibanez and Schecter all have Gibson Les Paul style guitars.....

[@STRATOHOLICRichman]

It's because they've been making them for for 40+ years and at one time and for a while, they were a better quality instruments than Fender and Gibson.

[@kennethcbailey27]

Those companies all have strat copies too. And they're all closer to a copy than this PRS is.

[@letsgooo1637]

They actually do tho...

[@prsplayer210]

Light Yagmai Can you believe most car manufacturers use 4 wheels? And combustion engines?

[@JordansTake35]

@@STRATOHOLICRichman This pound for pound is a much better built guitar than you will get from fender off the factory line, to get something of this quality from fender you have to go masterbuilt 6k+..

[@kentuckybourbonfade4264]

I have just bought a Music Man Valentine, and I can tell you that the neck feel utterly beautiful. It is the best playing experience I have ever had on a guitar, and I've owned all the big brands. And though it evokes classic lines, it is an original creation.

[@chenjunhao]

3:26 who knew. I have always presumed that a player like John would play with a fairly high action, since he plays hard and plays like Stevie and all that.Perfect example of reality vs preconception

[@thodorisvlastos6304]

I thought i was the only one who noticed that

[@fernank017]

stevies guitars were set up like shit. He must've been special to play with action that high, strings that heavy, and pickups literally touching the string.

[@justinchurch7675]

@@fernank017 Stevie set his pickups low dude

[@trey_dizzle4161]

Mt silver sky came with medium high action which I prefer its easier to mute strings with my fret hand

[@jeffmakor7135]

Two giants of the business. Great viewing. Great guitar. bravo.

[@SalmonFume]

I'm a Fender fanatic. I love Fender (guitars). But once I played a new PRS, I never went back. They're somethiing else. No setup, levelling, truss-rod adjusting this and that. The guitar is PERFECT when you buy it. You can argue about everything about PRS, to each his own, but not about the quality control and setup. I now refuse to give my money to a guitar that is not PERFECTLY playable when I buy it. You don't buy a car with flat tires do you?

[@brunovidana7837]

FACTS

[@trey_dizzle4161]

I have a white 2020 one and the pickups and tone knobs are way better than my strats I've Owend and obviously the build quality is a lot better

[@JohnStokesIRL]

Really nice, classy looking guitar. As drool worthy as it was, the John Mayer modern eagle had a touch of the homer simpson designed car about it :)

[@ProcashFloyd]

It's very nice to see paul's take on such a iconic instrument. I'd buy it.

[@kenmoore4374]

Legends! gotta try one.

[@prsguitars]

Let us know what you think once you get your hands on one, Ken.

[@theaceofspadesjl]

Strategically (and painfully) trying to refrain from saying the words "Fender" and "Stratocaster". That says a lot.

[@xavierg5523]

I trust Paul with this one

[@gustavo80br]

Piece of art, beautiful guitar!!!

[@obijuan3004]

I saw that John Mayer was playing this shape guitar at Eric Clapton’s 70 th birthday jam. It sounds great. PRS does good work.

[@bdwitt66]

Love the new headstock. Would look great on an Explorer/Z shaped guitar 😉

[@boozoochavis7506]

I don't agree with Bonamassa on much but he is correct that a certain liquid refreshment comes with a great red rubber-like washer that works great for holding straps on vintage strap buttons. That being said I always liked Paul's strap buttons, man those things are beefy and hold really well!! Great to see Rene out and about, he has worked for some detail type tone chasers over the decades.

[@TheStompboxer]

“A certain liquid refreshment.” Grolsch. You’re thinking of Grolsch. Unlike the guys in the video, you’re allowed to say a brand name.

[@banjo7598]

That was a bit like Rene and Paul selling on QVC.

[@Wouuuttttttt]

I love this guitar! I don't really understand most of the arguments by people who dont like it. It's not like it's the first time a big brand copied an iconic model.

[@LetsGetCoffee]

My next guitar! Just fantastic!

[@ezer0923]

PRS' Interpretation of a strat, with JM's tweaks. Why need to get salty people. Fender doesn't build guitars with PRS quality and QC

[@richlandbuere6173]

A very delicate talking of "Strat". HAHAHA! Anyway, all in all this is the work of genius, experts and legends. PRS and Rene.

[@patrickedwards2158]

Very nice Fender should be proud you only copy the best long live the Fender Stratocaster my favourite guitars great job PRS 👏🎸

[@efransophoto]

2002 or 3 Santana had Rene come up and do a stunning solo on his acoustic guitar which had been standing raised in position. Everyone was just blown away Van Andel Arena

[@drivin69]

cool looking guitar seems like a great prs style guitar love it.. the best of a great guitar company and everything they can do for a very cool unique style guitar.. i like the removable neck and love the fact that you guys keep that fantastic body cut on the bottom, very cool..

[@jimtrotman85]

So much knowledge!

[@Zoemin]

I love that guitar good job PRS

[@coffeedudeguy]

Paul looks excited about this one. I can imagine the challenge in referencing a classic standard, and somehow fitting it into the company DNA. I’d like to try one, it’s probably more than meets the eye

[@tomgnau]

Only two and a half years to research and design a Strat. With an improved jack plate. Bravo, guys!

[@satanpuncher06]

Dear PRS please release these with a roasted maple (or flamed maple would be awesome) neck and fretboard

[@bengalvin9932]

4:25 FIVE TONES?1. bridge2. bridge/middle 3.middle 4.middle/neck 5.neck HOLY SHIT YOUR RIGHT MIND BLOWN!!! some parts of this are like watching a video from the 1960's

[@evinoc]

I was pessimistic at first for obvious reasons. But this is a fantastic guitar and I think great value for money as a pro instrument. Id like to see any vintage/custom S shape, which would cost a whole lot more, compete with this. I'm so glad to see all the great improvements recently with guitars. Nostalgia is great but we should embrace what we have now. Hopefully some day there will be a Lefty model too :)

[@Spidouz]

I'm still very reluctant, because I absolutely never ever tried and liked (a.k.a bought) a guitar with a 7"¼ radius... I'm ok with 9.5" on my strats, and 10" and 12" are perfect on my PRS and other guitars. If the PRS Silver Sky would have been 9.5' or higher, I would have buy it even without even try it (like I already did with other PRS). But at 7"¼, I will HAVE to try it... there's no way I will just blindly buy it because of my experience history with this kind of radius. I get it that you tried to get it as close as possible of '63 and '64 Strats from John and Paul, but still... it's 2018 and we would deserve a vintage look and vintage sound, but with modern comfort... And I'm really saying this as a PRS fan, but the 7"¼ is really a deal-breaker for me. Sorry :(

[@beatlemartin12]

René is a true legend too

[@KrlosRodz]

9:51 Those couple of akward seconds regarding the headstock! :D

[@realgoodmind]

Looks really good PRS. Glad to have an affordable option that has all the prs mojo.

[@jamiegreer7904]

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” ― Oscar Wilde

[@tomthx5804]

"Stop ripping off our products" - President of Fender Guirar corp

[@prsplayer210]

Tom thx *"Stop making our products better"

[@LiberTBo]

Paul...By the time you finished congratulating each other on such an innovative new guitar, Leo Fender laughed his ass off from wherever he is right now, as well as all the other guitar manufacturers who have produced copies of the Stratocaster.

[@ThePacerX]

Yeah... I'll keep my Fenders, thanks.

[@SalmonFume]

It's a free world my man! But ... next time you're in a guitar shop, give it a go. C'mon, you like music and guitars don't you? You like sound and feel? Why not?

[@martinmartin8871]

Looking forward to trying it. I like all the specs and design stuff except the fret size and the round radius. Also I hope it has the PRS (1 11/16" ) wider than a 63 Fender nut width. I hope the bare body isof high quality alder- hidden under that paint job. Light like 3.5 lbs not 4.5 lbs just because it is cheaper to procure. Really happy with the PU tones!

[@aymanibrahim9736]

How hard was it not to mention "STRAT", through the whole thing, must have did a billion takes! :)

[@photobouph]

Would love to see the headstock concepts, Paul's face talking about them tells there were some long debates about it lol

[@TimTrane]

"good" means 'like a strat"

[@Mbr580]

Two legends talking about how they invented the strat 🤔

[@SugaryCoyote]

Legend!

[@lutephilips5550]

John Mayer is GENIUS... hey Paul make me a Fender!

[@geoffreymccook2586]

Well done PRS😊... A brilliantly built "vintage design", without the vintage price or problems

[@erikavery8083]

Other than the Obvious comparisons, I noticed that the pickups are radiused with the neck, which is a nice touch. I'd like to try one so I can give my final opinion.

[@protonman8947]

"You mean you had to take the neck off to adjust the truss rod?" Paul, give us a break. You've known that since you started shaving.

[@metalliholic]

Hahaha, right

[@darahs]

8:16 the other guitar hahah... almost let the word "strat" slip. Great job PRS, looks like you make em' even better.

[@vancitycanucks]

Shouldn't this be John presenting? If he doesn't have time to show it off, why's it worth any of our time?

[@kwameeyiah]

GuitarPartho exactly my thoughts

[@oliver.cerezo]

John's been touring with it for a while now

[@thecharlieramirez]

GuitarPartho René is a fucking legend, dude.

[@tricko2286]

Was a serious skeptic on this guitar (wasn’t a PRS fan)... Finally got a JMSS and it’s awesome. I guess I’m a PRS fan now 😬

[@lance134679]

If I didn't already have a Strat that I like, I'd consider this, although Fender's new Original Series also looks pretty good for a lot less with a Fender logo on the headstock.

[@jakobmorningstar]

Can’t wait to own a Moc Sand Silver Sky... one day

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

Love this ! Thanks guys . How bout a series with all the Sig. artist (Tremonti etc) guitar techs ?

[@prsguitars]

Thanks for the suggestion! We'll consider making this happen.

[@rawandxyz]

I'm totally buying this!

[@DavidMorisset]

Rawand Fatih how much is it? Would be nice to see some of the wood’s grain in the finish. I love a stained finish, surprised that’s not an option here. Can’t wait to try one at a retailer

[@geetarbube]

David Morisset it's an alder body...not much to see

[@DavidMorisset]

After wining the lotto Super Eagle for me

[@jjthejjetplane]

I LOVE PRS. Don't get me wrong. A big goal in life is to be able to afford one. But after watching this video, PRS must have some good lawyers. Maybe ittl be different if I play one, but as of now I'm not gonna pay 2.3k for a glorified strat copy. I'd rather buy an SE custom. I'll play with one though the first chance I get. Honestly I've never been disappointed by a PRS before so I'll try it.

[@xavierg5523]

I'm kinda glad they made this. John basically gave the middle finger to fender. Fender definitely has changed throughout the years. They're becoming a little too conservative with making their partnered artists use fender products and fender products only. That's what John didn't like

[@shaalis]

Ya know what I would love to see? PRS do a SG. A version of their own take on the SG. Super refine it and redesign it cosmetically [so NO not the mira, but that would be a great place to start!].

[@markkindermannart4028]

Please no. That ugly ass guitar has no place in the PRS line up.

[@0zwald]

Why does everyone hate on this guitar? And why does everyone come out of the woodwork like they are a fender brand ambassadors and are personally attacked? Lol neither company gives a shit about your whining. These play great, the pickups are unreal, and overall it’s a forward thinking approach to a 60’s icon that quite frankly fender can’t even get right anymore. Stop pretending this is a personal attack on everyone who ever played a lick on a strat.

[@eriks6484]

Well Said Connor!!

[@rlarla2040]

John was clearly using a strap lock on his instagram live video today......

[@RaspySquares]

I can't imagine being taught how to do a setup by Paul himself. I'd unlearn everything I know to have the Boss to tell me first.

[@bobdeluxeandtheideals1356]

🔥🔥🔥

[@cpamiseso]

can't complain more. 7.25 inch radius, but with 22 frets, dual action truss rod, single coil usual sound, stratocaster usual shape, it's good to me. despite the head stock and bird inlays, but it's PRS so it's alright.

[@bcaz84]

The guitar I wanted to hate, I played one then bought it. It’s an incredible guitar. I just don’t like the plastic tuners

[@tomthx5804]

Notice that Paul Reed Smith says "We retooled the knobs, we retooled the switch" etc. Retooled them from what? From the Fender Stratocaster, of course.

[@straightedgeecw]

Just sittin' here with my NF3, wondering where John's mind went.

[@melvynobrien6193]

I bought a Zach Myers SE; quite happy with it. How about a Silver Strat SE?

[@kasramoghaddam1389]

i really like these guitars however i wish it wasnt a Signature model ...

[@almas7123]

Kasra Moghaddam never been never will buy signature guitar.

[@MaritzaWild]

What difference does it make? If it sounds good and feels good, why not? Often signature guitars are road tested and based on years of experience. To each their own, but if I like a guitar, I like it. I'm yet to find a PRS guitar that I don't love.

[@kasramoghaddam1389]

MaritzaWild well you are basically paying extra for the name , i would personally pay that money for options like a compound radius fretboard or a roasted neck and...

[@davesbassworld9371]

A lot of people seem fine with - how many Les Pauls do you see out there?

[@joekimberlin264]

i just ordered a PRS 509, so obviously i have nothing against prs. and like others have pointed out, there have been strat copies almost as long as there have been strats. its a great design. some of those very well made: suhr, ibanez, anderson, & on & on. this one is..different. at first i thought it was the headstock, but PRS (and others) have done 3+3 headstocks on bolt-on 3 pup guitars and they work. the difference, i believe, with the silver sky is the pickguard . the combo of the classic strat body & pickguard design with something other that a inline 6 headstock just don't work, aesthetically (for me;). its like a strat neck on a les paul, ..um,,gross! haha! so for me, it just looks weird. i'm sure it plays & sounds great. maybe i'll warm up to it, but i still can't get into mayer playing with the dead either, just doesn't work. (for me:) but thats another thread :)

[@LaminarSound]

So many good things to say about PRS guitars, I love my CE24 and im dying for a Silver Sky. But those "strap buttons" are the only thing about the guitars thats a mistake. I literally couldnt get ANY of my three straps on my CE24 without an immense amount of effort, and when I did get them on, i was still worried about a slip, because they wouldnt go on securely around the head of the button. I replaced them with Dunlop strap locks and never looked back.

[@TillyP]

My favorite thing about this video is that they used an apostrophe after Rene's name rather than an accented e

[@gilbertocruz1683]

Check out the footage of Rene playing flamenco guitar with Jimmy Vaughan on YT

[@x7stringinJSCx]

The result of what he likes i guess.. a PRS neck and a Strat body. Can't go wrong. Both are comfy

[@JimKerstetter]

I hope they make an SE John Mayer model. Why not? They make other artist models in the SE line. I have a Mark Tremonti model SE. Paul, are you listening?

[@istvandejesus]

This guitar is really growing on me. Is only a matter of $$$.

[@GertvanderDoes]

Soooo. How does John play the Gravity solo on this thing? The pushing behind the nut thing?

[@marveldarnabeli1543]

The headstock, Paul, the headstock

[@kylekitmartinez9938]

Uhmm.. Paul... I have a question... If you changed that plastic pickguard into wood, what pros and cons would that have? tone wise, maintenance wise, and obviously aesthetic wise. i just think it would look great with wood or engraved pickguards. I dunno if mayer would like that.

[@Harrysound]

I guess john was too busy playing his new signature Charvel lol

[@AP-ui7oi]

I have one...it’s a great guitar.

[@matthewpaluch777]

Hey Paul, Where are these built?

[@carvinblack]

Stevensville, MD

[@skategeezer99]

Stevensville 2 factory in Maryland in America......

[@prsguitars]

These guitars are made in our Stevensville, Maryland factory.